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Biomedical subjects

Ben Gowland

Publications and source records attributed to Ben Gowland.

4 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

Completing the circle: from PD to PDSA.

Problem-solving teams, involving front-line staff, are widely used to achieve continuous process improvement. Approaches such as "plan-do-study-act" (PDSA) cycles, are now a core element of many health-care improvement initiatives. This paper evaluates the use of PDSA improvement cycles within the UK National Health Service, using emergency care improvement activity as a source of research evidence. It was found that, despite an abundance of information on how to implement this type of change, many senior professionals still misinterpret how this should work. This has implications for how such methodologies are implemented. There is a long way to go in allowing greater employee involvement, moving much further away from the "management committee" style of change. Care has to be taken to ensure that empowered employees are working to consistent and appropriate objectives. It is important that senior personnel develop process understanding alongside the workforce, rather than simply providing distant support.

Emergency Service, Hospital↗
PubMed2002

Redesigning cancer care.

Patients with cancer in the UK suffer more delays and worse survival than those in many other European states. The national cancer plan has set ambitious targets for improved care. The cancer services collaborative is using improvement methods to reduce delays and improve the service for patients. The nine cancer networks using these methods have cut waiting times and improved patients' experiences of care.

Evidence-Based Medicine↗
PubMed2002

Uptake and effects of the cypermethrin-containing sea lice treatment Excis in the marine mussel, Mytilus edulis.

Wild and farmed mussels, Mytilus edulis, coexist with salmon farms in Scottish sea lochs. A synthetic pyrethroid, cypermethrin, is licensed for use on fish farms to control sea lice infestations as a formulation called Excis. In this study, uptake of cypermethrin from Excis exposure is investigated through the use of gas chromatography with mass-spectrometry. The effects of Excis on mussels are also examined by measuring the neutral red retention time of lysosomes, aerial survival and shell closure. The isomeric ratios of cis:trans cypermethrin measured in mussels are around 80:20; a marked increase from 40:60 to which the mussels were exposed. This is most likely due to preferential metabolism of trans-isomers, as the same response is seen in vertebrates. There is a pronounced behavioural effect of shell closure, where mussels exposed to 1000 microg/l cypermethrin shut their shells within an hour of exposure. Arguments are presented for this effect being either a voluntary response on recognition of cypermethrin, or an effect arising from an involuntary action of cypermethrin on the adductor muscle. Even at 1000 microg/l cypermethrin, neutral red retention time and aerial survival are not affected. The data suggest that the responses of mussels shown here are unlikely to occur in the field, even at the concentrations of cypermethrin used in fish cages, for the treatment of sea lice.

Animals↗